Tracks

In this era of globalization and migration, we are increasingly a world of transplanted beings. But if we belong everywhere, we’re just a step away from belonging nowhere. And scapegoating and xenophobia affect our concept of home. Jian explores the question of what it means to be building a planet of exiles.

WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer has been heard to say “Eye-ran” and “Eye-ranians” when speaking of Iran. Is this just an innocent alternative pronunciation or are there social and political implications to the way names are said? Jian explores how alt-pronunciations like “Eye-talian”, “Ay-rab” and “Eye-ran” can been used as pejoratives, and as a way Read More »

Social media and the culture of outrage have created the conditions where we reflexively pick sides and rush to judgment in a binary debate – no shades in the middle. What happens to perspective when the world has become a screaming match?

What does it mean to truly embrace our impermanence? In the latest ideation, an ode to Prince, Jian explores the idea of mortality. The anniversary of the death of Prince, and other cultural giants like David Bowie and Leonard Cohen, reminds us that no one is eternal. But we also learn that we can seize Read More »

In an accelerated world consumed in crisis and knee-jerk outrage, is it possible to press pause and refrain before judgment? Jian ponders the chances of gaining perspective when moderation has become an antique, and urging cooler heads is interpreted as inaction. For more ideations, check out http://TheIdeationProject.com. Words, original music, recording and production by Jian Read More »

It’s a time of momentous events in the world, worthy of deep concern. But the combination of accelerated news, the internet, media competition, and Trump pronouncements has led a ubiquity of dire proclamations. Is CNN “Breaking News” broken? Jian explores the ideation that if all stories are delivered with the same hysterical fervour, it is Read More »

A metonymy is a word that stands in for another word that it is associated with. But what happens in our current era of shorthand, when a metonymy is used to stand in for the caricatured traits and actions of entire groups of people? Jian explores the way in which words like “Muslims” and “Mexicans” Read More »

How scared should we be? We live in a new age of anxiety where multifaceted global industries benefit from fearmongering. But there are also dangers too significant to assume exaggeration. Jian explores the nature of alarmism, a dearth of trusted sources, and the implications of a world increasingly governed by fear. Words, original music, recording Read More »

What does it mean when we mourn for the loss of someone who never existed? Drawing from the recent death of popular figures in this season’s TV series finales, Jian explores how our growing attachment to fictional characters is connected to the increasing loneliness and social emptiness we experience in a screen-dominated world. Words, original Read More »

Can we break our smartphone addiction? And what happens if we don’t? On the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, we are a society addicted to social media and our smartphones – and it’s messing with our heads. Fear of missing out (“FOMO”) has already been a popular discussion point in the last couple of years, Read More »